Leeds Knights won a tense NIHL play-off tie 3-2 against Telford Tigers at Planet Ice Leeds on Saturday evening, two second-period goals in 70 seconds establishing the platform before Finley Bradon's power play strike at 50:56 gave Leeds the cushion they needed. Telford pulled it back to 3-2 through P. Brown at 54:37 and pushed hard in the closing minutes — pulling their goalkeeper at 59:25 and calling a timeout at 58:51 — but couldn't find the equaliser as Leeds held on.

It is a significant play-off result for Leeds, who come into the tie having won three of their last four league matches and are now through to the next round. For Telford, who had lost their previous two before Saturday's 8-5 win at Basingstoke, this is an early exit from the play-offs.

A goalless, penalty-heavy first period

The first period produced no goals but plenty of tension. Peyton was penalised for cross-checking at 9:47, Griffin for hooking at 13:47, and Capps for slashing at 14:47 — three penalties in five minutes, none converted. Both sides had opportunities without the finish to match.

Leeds score twice in 70 seconds — Telford respond

The second period was decisive. Bissonnette opened the scoring at 32:54 — Sobchak and Endicott assisting — and Endicott added a second at 34:04 from Harrison and Griffin to make it 2-0. Two goals in 70 seconds, both from the same trio in rotating combinations, and Leeds had the lead their play had merited.

Pakozdi was penalised for tripping at 34:29, giving Telford a power play they couldn't convert. Then Fielder pulled one back at 39:05 — Thomson and H. Ferguson assisting — to make it 2-1 at the second break. Telford had life heading into the third.

The third period — Gospel comes in, Bradon seals it, Telford fall short

Leeds made a notable mid-period change in the third. Gospel had gone off at 48:58 for an extra skater — a tactical move that backfired when Fielder was penalised for high sticking at 49:08 — and Gospel came back on at 49:08 simultaneously with the penalty. Bradon then converted the resulting power play at 50:56 from Sobchak and Bissonnette to make it 3-1, and Leeds appeared in control.

P. Brown pulled it back to 3-2 at 54:37 from Mather's assist, and Cooper was penalised for cross-checking at 43:07. Telford's timeout at 58:51 and net empty from 59:25 gave them 35 seconds to find an equaliser. They couldn't. Leeds held on for a 3-2 win and their place in the next play-off round.

Result: Leeds Knights 3 – 2 Telford Tigers
Leeds Knights scorers: Bissonnette 32:54 (A: Sobchak, Endicott) — Endicott 34:04 (A: Harrison, Griffin) — Bradon 50:56 PP (A: Sobchak, Bissonnette)
Telford Tigers scorers: Fielder 39:05 (A: Thomson, H. Ferguson) — P. Brown 54:37 (A: Mather)
Goaltenders: Sam Gospel (LEE) | Brad Day (TEL)